Pac-10 Expansion?

Is the Pac-10 really prepared to offer 6 teams from the Big 12 like this article from Oregonbloods.com and this one from Rivals states? The Pac-10 is meeting this weekend in San Francisco to discuss the status of the conference and I heard earlier this week that they might propose something big... I just didn't think this big. I had also heard rumors that the Pac-10 might even suggest the addition of a Pac-10 network as soon as next week. Sounds like we might have a better idea of the Pac-10's intentions after this weekend.

Pac-10 Ranked Best Conference

Pac-10 was ranked the top conference this year by Ivan Maisel and Mark Schlabach. My only hope is that they show this by winning all 7 games they are favored in this bowl season. Going 12 for 12 in 2 years would be quite statement for the conference. See video below.

What We've Missed the Last Few Days

• ESPN will be testing it's first 3D telecast to fans during the USC at Ohio State game on Sept. 12th.
• True Freshman Daryle Hawkins has been showing he might be part of the QB mix at Oregon.
• Oregon has closed out the public to their last scrimmage tomorrow. Maybe Kelly's got something up his sleeve...
• Oregon Ducks Elevator Week 3. Up: Daryle Hawkins, UO Women's Soccer & Morgan Flint... Down: Bo Thran... Lost: Lou Holtz
• Oregon's new receivers have been keeping their eye (and hands) on the ball.
• The defense has been stepping up this fall after Aliotti tweaked it in the offseason.
• Oregon came in at #16 in the preseason AP poll.
• Kenny Rowe was listed on the Pac-10 All Hype Team.
• Thurmond is looking to jump-start the Ducks as their punt and kick returner.
• Byrd is ready to make a impact for the Bills.

And in Blazer News... The Blazer's signed Dante Cunningham Friday. Plus... here is a transactions flow chart.

Pac-10 Coaches Awards

Nick over at Off the Pond posted this year's Pac-10 Coaches Awards. If you enjoy reading that hopefully FOTB (Fiance of the Blog) will return this year... Or is it WOTB now Nick?

Alamo Bowl

Apparently the Holiday Bowl will be getting a demotion and become the conferences bowl for the 3rd place finisher. The Alamo Bowl will become the conference's bowl for the 2nd place finisher offering $3 million per team and will take place January 2nd, giving the Pac-10 another post-New Years Bowl. San Antonio could be fun.

Ranking Non-Conference Schedules

Mark Schlabachfrom ESPN ranked the top 10 toughest and easiest non-conference schedules. Just so happens that Oregon's schedule ranks as the 3rd toughest schedule. While the Pac-10 doesn't have any other teams in the top 10 toughest there also isn't 1 team from the Pac that shows up in the many teams listed in the 10 easiest.

How I Would Have Done: Part 3

Here were my national Over/Under picks...

• 2.5 - Syracuse - tough one... OVER {Finished 3-9} [1-0]
• 3 - Vanderbilt - OVER {Finished 6-6} [2-0]
• 5.5 - Colorado - OVER {Finished 5-7} [2-1]
• 6 - Arkansas - UNDER {Finished 5-7} [3-1]
• 6.5 - Kentucky - OVER {Finished 6-6} [3-2]
• 6.5 - Purdue - OVER {Finished 4-8} [3-3]
• 7 - Texas A&M - OVER {Finished 4-8} [3-4]
• 7 - Notre Dame - UNDER {YAY!!! Finished 6-6} [4-4]
• 7 - Nebraska - hmmm... OVER {Finished 8-4} [5-4]
• 8 - South Carolina - OVER {Finished 7-5} [5-5]
• 8 - Michigan - UNDER {Finished 3-9} [6-5]
• 8.5 - Fresno State - OVER {Finished 7-5} [6-6]
• 9.5 - Boise State - OVER {Finished 12-0} [7-6]
• 10 - Ohio State - OVER... unfortunately... {Finished 10-2} [WASH 7-6]
• 10 - Oklahoma - UNDER... but barely... {Finished 12-1} [7-7]

Well I guess picking 50/50 on all over/under bets isn't bad. I still would have lost a little money unfortuately because there is no such thing as an even bet. Likely would have broken even considering I one more on the Pac-10 over/under bets. Approx. even money for the season ain't bad.

How I Would Have Done: Part 2

Here were my Pac-10 Over/Under predictions in July.

• Stanford (4)- OVER {Finished 5-7} [1-0]
• WSU (4) - EVEN (No Bet) {Finished 2-11} [1-0]
• Washington (4.5) - OVER - But just by 5... Still means... Bye Ty {Finished 0-12} [1-1]
• Arizona (6.5) - UNDER - Think Erickson would move to Arizona if the price was right? [1-2]
• OSU (6.5) - OVER - Beavers always seem to do better than expected, even without their front 7 on D {Finished 8-4} [2-2]
• Oregon (8) - OVER - Better to be slightly optimistic than overly unrealistic. {Finished 9-3} [3-2]
• Cal (8) - UNDER - I'll believe it when I see it. {Finished 8-4} [PUSH 3-2]
• ASU (8.5) - UNDER - They are no longer under the radar... They have the players but I don't think they will win more than 8 (Even with the 3 game gimme to start the season). {Finished 5-7} [4-2]
• USC (10.5) - UNDER - Regardless, I think the Trojans will stumble at least twice this season. {Finished 11-1} [4-3]

Can't complain about winning one more than losing. Though, the fact that I gave Washington 5 wins was just a tad generous.

How I Would Have Done: Part 1

Looking back to July when the original future odds were released for the 2008 football season I made some predictions.

Here are what the odds were in back in July

• 3/1 - USC
• 35/1 - ASU
• 40/1 - Cal
• 60/1 - Oregon & UCLA
• 100/1 - Washington
• 125/1 - OSU, WSU & Arizona
• NONE - Stanford (Field 40/1)

Here is what is should have looked like...

• 3/1 - USC - As long as Carroll is around I don't think USC will move from this spot.
• 35/1 - Oregon - Not bad considering the Ducks played 4 quarterbacks this year and eventually stuck with the 3rd string QB.
• 40/1 - Oregon State - A lot better than anyone could have predicted.
• 60/1 - Cal - I still don't get this team year in-year out.
• 80/1 - Arizona - Yay! Arizona will be mediocre another year!
• 100/1 - ASU & Stanford - Almost... but not quite.
• 125/1 - UCLA - UCLA might have been able to stay competitive if Kevin Craft wasn't the worst QB in college football.
• 1,000,000/1 - Washington... So you're saying there's a chance!
• NONE - WSU (Field 40/1) - QB tryouts at least gave them some joy this year.

Bowl Predictions

As always, Espn and others have their weekly bowl predictions...

Both Espn writers believe the Ducks will play in the Rose Bowl against either Wisconsin or Penn State. Both would be fun matchups, though I would rather see us play Penn State since we've played Wisconsin in the past century.

They also have USC playing the National Championship, Cal playing in the Holiday, ASU playing in the Sun, Either OSU or UCLA playing in the Emerald, and Arizona playing in the Las Vegas.

A Yahoo.com writer predicts the Ducks will play in the Holiday Bowl against Kansas. He also has USC playing for the National Championship and an 8-4 Cal team playing in the Rose.

Storm Troopers

Here's hoping the Ducks have another record day in "storm trooper" unis!

Must Be Tough...

It must be hard trying to recruit kids to a school in a warm climate, in a big city, in the middle of a football rich state and especially with a ho-hum list of attendees for their games.

Forde's 40

As he does every week during, Pat Forde's "Forde Yard Dash" previewed the Oregon / Purdue game this coming weekend. You have to love some of the stats he put in his article.

Ah... Pure Comedy...

I heard another one of these prank calls on 1080 this afternoon and what made it even better is whom it happened to... Pete Carroll.

I couldn't find the one they played on 1080 and it was the only call that was actually screened. The same guy called and asked whom Pete Carroll believed in the Pac-10 was actually packing 10. Classic. I heard it was an Ohio State fan just having some fun. I'm sure Carroll will have the last laugh on Saturday.

Injury Plagues the Huskies

If loosing by 34 to Oregon wasn't bad enough, the Huskies had to put their mascot on the injured reserve.

Thurmond to Wear 29

Andy McNamara confirmed that Walter Thurmond III will be wearing Todd Doxey's 29 in this weekends game against Utah State.

Scoreboard Baby!

So even Ted Miller got into the discussion about Pac-10 and SEC.

More on Todd Doxey

Jason King from Yahoo Sports wrote a great article that dives more into the life and death of Todd Doxey. It's sad to see such a good kid leave this earth so early.

Pac 10 vs SEC

So I was planning on doing some research regarding the Pac-10 and SEC but a few people beat me to it here and here (and I'm sure other places).

One thing they didn't note was the home games. Where since 2000 the SEC had 8 home games while the Pac-10 had 7. If you include this year it would be SEC 8 home games and Pac-10 9 home games.

After last nights UCLA win over Tennessee, the Pac 10 is 10 for 6 since the turn of the century. But it is looking to be like 10 for 7 after Georgia visits ASU in a few weeks. Still, you take out the 2 conference powers (USC and LSU) the Pac 10 is currently ahead 6 - 2. Even if Georgia wins in a few weeks that would only make it 6 - 3. That is still a 66% winning record. Not bad at all.

Even Bob Rickert from the Oregonian believes that the gap isn't as wide as the media makes everyone believe.

Misc. Links Today

• Kirk Herbstreit released his Eighth Annual Herbie Awards today. While the offense didn't make any of the position lists, the Ducks secondary had 3 of 4 players make the list. Jarius Byrd and Walter Thurmond came in 3rd and 4th (respectively) in the cornerback category and Patrick Chung came in 5th on the Safety category. Herbstreit also believes that Jamere Holland will be a household name by the end of September (That's as long as he can stay healthy), Nick Reed was mentioned a player that doesn't get enough respect and Chip Kelly was the #2 top player caller based on talent to work with. Some of Kirks picks were dead on while there were a few that brought a "huh? really?" For example, Herbstreit picked Arizona as his conference sleeper. Really? With good 'ole Stoops running that team? We'll see come December.
• I'm sure you've all heard already but Costa is out for 8 - 10 weeks to remove some damaged cartilage from his knee. As I said early, I'm more than happy with the Ducks QBs.
• Garrett was also dismissed from the team, apparently he also had some academic issues.
• Ted Miller predicted that Coach Bellotti will win Pac-10 coach of the year.
• It's over, I guess we should just crown UCLA the Pac-10 champion. Ted Miller had something to say about that and looks like only one person actually thought it was worth commenting on.
• Ted Miller ranked the Pac-10 Schedules and Oregon ranked at 6th. Seems about right.
• Oregon made 3 of 10 of the 2008 Pac-10 games to watch.
• Keeping an eye on this weeks opponent Washington. Willingham is happy he finally knows which QB to prepare for and Locker says he doesn't know how to figure out health percentages.